Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

I Peter 5:8 (quoted above) is one I hear and think about often. I read it in Scripture and also listen to Heidi St. John’s podcast where she frequently quotes this passage. It is at the forefront of my mind daily.

Friends, we are in a battle.

I do not want us to be ignorant of the fact that the devil is not a delicate foofoo devil, he is like a lion looking to devour and destroy.

He does not take kindly to strangers.

As I was contemplating this recently, I was imagining what it would be like to be the prey of the lion. He likely goes after the weak/sick, the vulnerable/defenseless, as well as those in his territory. I do not want to be among the first 2, but I do want to be part the last.

Let me explain.

Though I have heard this verse countless times, I neglected to notice a key detail. The lion is not sneaking around quietly looking to pounce, like a house cat attacking a toy mouse, he’s making his presence known by “roaring.” This goes against what I have always imagined. I pictured him being a sneaky and stealthy lion, but this is not how he is described in this passage.

He is not silent. He is loud. His roar is heard.

Well, if you’re close enough, you can hear him.

Can you hear the roaring lion?

This got me curious, what causes a lion to roar?

Roaring is a form of communication.

It is one of the loudest calls in the animal kingdom and can be heard from up to 8km away.  The male’s roar is deeper and louder than the female’s.  Lions roar to tell other lions where they are, to show how big they are and to warn lions from other prides to keep away from their home territory.  They do this mostly just before sunrise and sunset when they are most active.

Whoa. So much to unpack here, but I want to focus on just one aspect from the above quote; the lion roars to claim and protect its territory.

If we can hear the roar of the lion, it means we are in or near its territory. The lion is ready to fight for, defend, and devour in order to protect its territory. He’s warning you, you are too close for his comfort.

Can you hear the roaring lion?

As I researched a bit more, I came across an interesting quote by A.W. Tozer during a challenging time in his ministry,

It is a delightful thing when you know that you are close enough to the adversary that you can hear him roar. Too many Christians never get into ‘lion country’ at all!

Can you hear the roaring lion?

Are you in the battlefield, ready to take on the enemy?

Dennis Rainey says it like this,

Successful invaders are risk takers – they are men and women of faith and action …

You can tell if you’re in lion country. Heard any roaring lions lately? Get on with it – the greatest thrill in your life will come in knowing you’re encroaching on the enemy’s territory.

I don’t know about you, but I do not want to be weak and vulnerable prey for the lion to devour. I want to be strong and bold. An invader. A risk taker. No fear. Ready to do battle, equipped with the armor of God. A woman of faith and action. Not a hearer of The Word only, but a doer of The Word. 

Can you hear the roaring lion?

I want the enemy to know I am a danger, a menace to his plans.

Can you hear the roaring lion?

Putting my faith into action gets the lion on defense.

Can you hear the roaring lion?

If I am a threat to the enemy, he will roar.

Can you hear the roaring lion?

Friends, I want to hear the lion roar wherever my foot treads … it means I am close and he doesn’t like what I am doing.

Be alert and of sober mind [clearheaded]. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

Not today, lion. Not today. Roar all you want, you will not win this battle! I am ready. We are ready.

To God be the Glory!!